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¹ AND it came to pass in those days, the Philistines gathered their armies together in the valley for war to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, Know assuredly that you shall go out with me to the host, you and your men.² And David said to Achish, Surely you shall know what your servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.³ Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned over him and buried him in Ramtha in his own sepulchre. And Saul had put away the diviners and the wizards out of the land.⁴ And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and encamped in Shechem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they encamped in Gilgal.⁵ And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.⁶ And when Saul inquired of the LORD, he did not answer him, either by dreams or by fire or by prophets.

⁷ Then Saul said to his servants, Seek me a woman who has a familiar spirit, that I may go to her and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman who has a familiar spirit at Endor.⁸ And Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment, and he went and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and Saul said to her, Divine for me by the familiar spirit, and bring up for me him whom I shall tell you.⁹ And the woman said to him, Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has removed those who have familiar spirits and the wizards out of the land. Why then are you laying a snare for my life to cause me to be put to death?¹⁰ And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD lives, there shall no harm come upon you for this thing.¹¹ Then the woman said, Whom shall I bring up to you? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.¹² And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.¹³ And the king said to her, Fear not; what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.¹⁴ And he said to her, What is their appearance? And she said to him, An old man is coming up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and made obeisance.

¹⁵ And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you disturbed me to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines are making war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more although I have inquired by the prophets and also by dreams; therefore I have called you, that you may tell me what I shall do.¹⁶ Then Samuel said to Saul, Why do you ask of me, seeing the LORD has departed from you, and now he is with your neighbor David?¹⁷ And the LORD has done to him, as he spoke by me; for he has rent asunder the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David;¹⁸ Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD and did not execute his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day.¹⁹ Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines; and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me; the LORD also shall deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

²⁰ Then Saul fell straightway upon his face on the ground, and was exceedingly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all that day, nor all that night.²¹ And the woman came to Saul, and saw that he was exceedingly afraid, and said to him, Behold, your handmaid has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in your hand, and have listened to the words which you spoke to me.²² Now therefore, listen also to the voice of your handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength, because you are going on a journey.²³ But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, begged him; and he hearkened to their voice. So he arose from the ground and sat upon the bed.²⁴ Now the woman had a fatted calf in the house; and she made haste and killed it, and took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread;²⁵ And she brought it before Saul and before his servants; and they ate. Then they rose up and went away that night.